Micky's Pembrokeshire
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 A good golfer – and cricket’s ‘Deep End’ He was also a more than useful golfer at 17, playing off a handicap of 2, and readily admits that had he really applied himself he might have gone much further in the game. But cricket called and when he received an invitation to come to the UK to play for Stockton in the North-Eastern Premier League he deferred his degree course in Business Management and Accounting so that he could give it a go. He was just 19 and hadn’t been away from home before so he really was thrown in at the deep end as he shared a house with another aspiring young player – and Mr Moon, of course. “I enjoyed the very competitive cricket despite finding it hard to use the ball effectively, but I represented Cumberland against Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.” |
 Tish discovered and appreciated It was a great experience but eventually he needed to find work and after a few trips around the country he eventually alighted in Pembrokeshire. “I bumped into Peter Bradshaw and some other lads at the pub in Tish and decided it was the right place for me to settle for a while – not least because Peter’s parents, Wendy and Chris, looked after me like a second son, not least of all in the fact that Mrs B has always done my laundry for me ever since. She is a brilliant lady”! He quickly settled into the Tish way of things and in his first campaign there the club completed the double of league and Harrison-Allen Bowl winners. “I will never forget the final – what an amazing event it is – but even more memorable was to have Dan Howells hit a six to win our last game and secure the title. It was very foggy and it was hard to see until the umpire signalled the six, and we all went mad!” Stewart scored 46 runs in the second innings of the Bowl final but at his first Tish dinner he received the special award for most ducks during the season, holding the huge bat with a hole in it alongside Andrew Salter! |
 Final farewell He also readily admits that some clubs found it hard to put up with his Aussie ‘sledging’ on the field but says he has matured a lot and made some good pals along the way. “I thought Gregg Miller was going to hit me with the bat when we first met up but we are good pals now. Simon Cole is the best player I’ve seen in the county and others I rate are Dan Field with the bat and Paul Hood as a bowler. I might have been loud on the pitch but I really enjoyed a pint with the opposition afterwards because that is the Australian way.” “I will always keep in touch with St Ishmaels because there are some amazing characters there, especially with regard to the Bradshaw family, but I would also like to extend an invitation for anyone in Pembrokeshire Cricket to look me up if they are in Melbourne – you will be guaranteed a real Kimpton welcome from me and my family!” Photos: Stuart Kimpton Stewart Kimpton & Wendy Bradshaw Stewart Kimpton as part of Tish's Bowl-winning team Stewart Kimpton and youth team pals |
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